How to Play Paddle Duel
You control the amber paddle at the bottom of the court while the cyan computer paddle guards the top. Move with the left and right arrows or A and D. You can also point with a mouse or drag a finger across the game area, and the paddle will follow your horizontal position for quick, direct defense.
Return the glowing ball past the computer to earn one point. The place where the ball hits your paddle changes its angle: meeting it near the center produces a straighter return, while catching it near an edge sends it sharply across the court. Use those angled shots to pull the computer away from the side you want to attack.
If the ball passes below your paddle, you lose one of three lives and a new serve begins. Rallies gradually accelerate, and the computer becomes quicker as your score increases, so later points require earlier movement and more controlled rebounds. The match ends only when all three lives are gone, and every computer miss adds to your high score.
Avoid chasing the ball's current location when it is moving away from you. Instead, estimate where its path will meet the bottom edge and set up there before it arrives. Once you can defend consistently, aim alternate returns toward opposite corners; changing the angle forces longer computer movement and creates the best openings for a winning shot.